Ventilated shoe



Nov. 6, 1962 B. LEVINE 3,061,950

VENTILATED SHOE Filed March 8, 1960 INVENTOR. 5577/ A5 wlvs WQ WN ATIO QA/f) Patented Nov, 6, 1962 3,061,950 VENTILATED SHOE Beth Levine, 59 W. 12th St., New York, NY. Filed Mar. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 13,465 2 Claims. (Cl. 363) This invention relates to a shoe construction, and more particularly to the sole construction thereof.

It is an object of this invention to provide a shoe construction with a sole arrangement, wherein ventilating openings are provided in the sole of the shoe for communication between the interior thereof and the external atmosphere and wherein means are provided for preventing the entry of moisture or other foreign matter into the interior of the shoe while maintaining it in ventilating condition.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a sole construction for a shoe, wherein a thickened tread portion is provided which is so arranged as to maintain the aesthetic appearance of a relatively thin shoe sole.

Other and further objects, benefits and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the description thereof contained in the annexed specification or will otherwise become obvious. It will be understood that the invention here disclosed may be employed for other purposes to which the structure and arrangement are adapted.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a shoe in accordance with the present invention, partly broken away to show the sole arrangement;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary bottom view of the shoe sole of FIGURE 1, as viewed from line 2--2 thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevational-view of a modified form of shoe sole construction, partly broken away;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view of the shoe con struction shown in FIGURE 3, partly broken away to show the closure of the ventilating openings as the weight of the wearer is applied to the shoe; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary bottom view of the modified form of shoe sole construction shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURES 1 and 2 illustrate one form of the invention as applied to the conventional form of high-heeled womens shoes. The shoe, designated generally by the numeral 10, consists of an upper 11 and a sole structure 12, having a forward or ball portion 13, a shank portion 14 and a heel portion 15. Sole structure 12 includes an inner sole 16, an outer sole 17 and a heel member 18. The sole structure is flexible at the breakline 19 at the juncture of the forward or ball portion 13 with the shank portion 14.

The forward or ball portion of the outer sole 17 is provided with vent openings 20 disposed in spaced relation along the opposing marginal side edges thereof and similar vent openings 21 disposed fonvard of the breakline 19. Vent openings 20 and 21 extend through the inner and outer sole and provide communication between the interior of the shoe and the external atmosphere.

Sole structure 12 is additionally provided with tread portion 22, which is secured to the undersurface of the ball portion of outer sole 17 by any suitable means. In the form of the invention illustrated, the tread portion 22 is of the same general configuration or outline as the ball portion of the sole to which it is attached. However, said tread portion is of reduced size, so that the marginal portion of the shoe outer sole is left exposed. Consequently, the vents 20 and 21 are left unobstructed. By the provision of tread portion 22, the marginal portion of the sole structure through which the vent openings 20 and 21 extend, is elevated and maintained out of providing for additional .shock absorption. Ztional sole material provided by the tread portion extends the useful side of the sole structure. These benefits contact with the ground, as appears more clearly from FIGURE 1. The tread surfaces of platform 22 and heel member 18 are in a common plane as when in actual engagement with the ground.

It is thus apparent that by reason of the shoe construction herein provided, shoe 10, when in use by a wearer, as for standing, walking, running, etc., is at all times airconditioned by the entry of air from the external atmosphere through vent openings 20 and 21. Additionally, since tread portion 22 elevates the outer sole 17 and its vent openings 20 and 21 from contact with the ground-at all times, moisture and foreign matter are prevented from and are unable to enter into the interior of the shoe through vent openings 20 and 21. It is thus possible to wear the shoes even under adverse weather conditions without discomfort. Furthermore, the provision of the tread portion of reduced dimensions so as to form'a marginal. step or indentation on the lower surface of the outer sole permits the use of an additional layer of sole material without losing the effect of the appearance of a thin-soled shoe-Which constitutes a very important consideration in shoes of this type. The provision of an increased thicknes of sole material prevent the irregularities of the ground from being communicated to the sole of the foot of the wearer, thereby increasing the wearing comfort characteristics of the shoe, as well as The addimay comprise an appropriately secured layer of sole material or may be formed by cutting away or indenting the marginal edge of the outer sole, in which event said tread portion comprises an integral part of the sole structure. It may also be desirable to provide for a gradual rather than a sharply defined transition from the tread portion to the periphery of the sole structure, as by the marginal edge thereof. In any event, the structure is such as to maintain the apertured portions of the shoe sole in elevated condition while the remainder of the sole is in ground engagement, so as to provide for proper ventilation while preventing the entry of foreign matter or water into the shoe interior. The arrangement also permits the use of materials which do not have the breathing characteristics of leather for the outer sole, since the ventilation provided by the vents more than offsets the otherwise impermeable character of the sole and tread portion material. Thus, rubber and synthetic sole or tread materials may be employed to advantage. The provision of an independently secured tread portion also facilitates the repair of the shoe, since it may be replaced when worn without adverse effects upon the appearance and character of the marginal edges and other portions of the shoe sole. It is also to be noted that since the tread portion is confined to the area forward of the breakline, the flexibility of the shoe is not reduced, although the benefits of a substantially thicker sole are provided by the tread portion of the shoe.

FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 illustrate another embodiment of the invention as applied to a mans shoe, designated generally by the numeral 30. Shoe 30 is comprised of a shoe upper 31, inner sole 32, outer sole 33 having a tread portion 34 co-extensive therewith. The tread portion 34 of the outer sole is preferably made of a suitable resilient material, such as rubber, and is provided with a plurality of corrugations or indentations 35 along the ground engaging face thereof. These corrugations may be slightly angularly inclined towards the rear of the shoe and are disposed along the width thereof forming channels 36 between successive corrugations 35, each channel 36 being denfied by base 37 and sides 38 and 39. Base 37 of each said channels 36 is providedv with a plurality of vent openings 40, which extend upwardly through the outer sole 33 and inner sole 32 for communication with the interior of the shoe and thus Providing for the entry therein of air from the external atmosphere. As appears from FIGURE 4, when the weight of the wearer is borne by the shoe, the angular inclination of corrugations 35 toward the rear of the shoe becomes greater due to the compressive force applied and as a result thereof, side walls 38 and 39 in the area of base 37 approach each other and constrict or close ofif vent openings 40 so that no moisture or foreign matter can enter therethrough. It is evident that the corrugated portions of the shoe tread. borne by the outer sole maintain the openings of the vents in elevated condition with respect to the ground surface and automatically act to reduce or close these openings as ground engagement occurs, assuring against the entry of foreign matter and moisture. Thus, a rubber soled shoe is well ventilated and comfortable to wear. The constriction of the lower portion of the vents also tends to force some air upwardly into the shoe interior and an air pumping action is thus achieved during walking which enhances the comfort characteristics of the shoe.

While I have here shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent however that this invention is not limited to this embodiment and that many changes, additions and modifications can be made in connection therewith without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed. Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a shoe, a sole structure having ball, shank and heel portions, said sole structure comprising an inner sole, an outer sole and a tread portion carried by the undersurface of the ball portion of the outer sole, said tread portion having a peripheral edge which is laterally inwardly offset from the peripheral edge of the ball portion of the outer sole to define a continuous unobstructed marginal strip on the undersurface of said outer sole ball portion between said peripheral edges, said tread portion completely covering the undersurface of the outer sole ball portion within said strip,

the under surface of said strip being vertically upwardly offset from the undersurface of said tread portion,

and vent openings defined in said strip at the under surface thereof,

said vent openings being in communication with the interior of the shoe.

2. A sole structure as in claim 1, said tread portion being spaced in the direction of the toe of the shoe from the juncture of the ball portion and shank portion of said outer sole to define a transverse portion of said continuous strip, and said vent openings being defined also in said transverse strip portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 144,460 Kowal Apr. 16, 1946 429,429 Eckhardt June 3, 1890 2,030,545 Schulze Feb. 11, 1936 2,146,888 Fisch Feb. 14, 1939 2,185,762 Cox Jan. 2, 1940 2,760,279 Jones et a1 Aug. 28, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,161 Great Britain Apr. 6, 1868 17,140 Great Britain 1887 175,743 Germany Oct. 10, 1906 168,712 Switzerland July 2, 1934 

